Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska, 36808-36809 [2016-13454]

Download as PDF 36808 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations (c) Usual and accustomed fishing areas or U&A fishing areas. The Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes’ U&A fishing areas within the EEZ are set out in § 660.4. * * * * * (e) * * * (4) Fishing outside the U&A fishing area or without a groundfish allocation. Fishing by a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe outside the applicable Indian tribe’s U&A fishing area, or for a species of groundfish not covered by an allocation, set-aside, or regulation under this section, is subject to the regulations in the other sections of subpart C through subpart G of this part. Treaty fisheries operating within tribal allocations are prohibited from operating outside the U&A fishing areas described at § 660.4, subpart A. * * * * * (g) * * * (11) EFH. Measures implemented to minimize adverse impacts to groundfish EFH, as described in § 660.12 of this subpart, do not apply to tribal fisheries in their U&A fishing areas described at § 660.4, subpart A. ■ 6. In 660.112, revise paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows: § 660.112 Trawl fishery—prohibitions. * * * * * (c) * * * (2) During times or in areas where atsea processing is prohibited, take and retain or receive Pacific whiting, except as cargo or fish waste, on a vessel in the fishery management area that already has processed Pacific whiting on board. An exception to this prohibition is provided if the fish are received within the tribal U&A fishing area, described at § 660.4, subpart A, from a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe fishing under § 660.50, subpart C. * * * * * ■ 7. In § 660.518, revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows: ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES § 660.518 Rights. Pacific Coast Treaty Indian (a) Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes have treaty rights to harvest CPS in their usual and accustomed fishing areas in the EEZ. (b) For the purposes of this section, Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes means the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute Indian Tribes and the Quinault Indian Nation, and their ‘‘usual and accustomed fishing areas’’ are described at § 660.4, subpart A. * * * * * ■ 8. In § 660.706, revise paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (f) and (h) to read as follows: VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:36 Jun 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 § 660.706 rights. Pacific Coast Treaty Indian (a) Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes have treaty rights to harvest HMS in their usual and accustomed (U&A) fishing areas in the EEZ. * * * * * (c) The Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes’ U&A fishing areas within the EEZ are set forth in § 660.4 of this chapter. (d) Procedures. The rights referred to in paragraph (a) of this section will be implemented by the Secretary of Commerce, after consideration of the tribal request, the recommendation of the Council, and the comments of the public. The rights will be implemented either through an allocation of fish that will be managed by the tribes, or through regulations that will apply specifically to the tribal fisheries. An allocation or a regulation specific to the tribes shall be initiated by a written request from a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe to the NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator, at least 120 days prior to the time the allocation is desired to be effective, and will be subject to public review through the Council process. The Secretary of Commerce recognizes the sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes over shared Federal and tribal fishery resources. Accordingly, the Secretary of Commerce will develop tribal allocations and regulations in consultation with the affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal consensus. * * * * * (f) Fishing (on a tribal allocation or under a Federal regulation applicable to tribal fisheries) by a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe within that tribe’s U&A fishing area is not subject to provisions of the HMS regulations applicable to non-treaty fisheries. * * * * * (h) Fishing by a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe outside that tribe’s U&A fishing area, or for a species of HMS not covered by a treaty allocation or applicable Federal regulation, is subject to the HMS regulations applicable to non-treaty fisheries. [FR Doc. 2016–13469 Filed 6–7–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] RIN 0648–XE667 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, other than demersal shelf rockfish or sablefish managed under the Individual Fishing Quota Program, by catcher vessels (C/ Vs) using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA has been reached. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 10, 2016, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA is 129 metric tons as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016). In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, other than demersal shelf rockfish or sablefish managed under the Individual Fishing Quota Program, by C/Vs using hookSUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08JNR1.SGM 08JNR1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations and-line gear in the GOA. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:36 Jun 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay closure of the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of June 1, 2016. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 36809 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. This action is required by § 679.20 and § 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 2, 2016. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–13454 Filed 6–7–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08JNR1.SGM 08JNR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36808-36809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE667


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-
and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, other 
than demersal shelf rockfish or sablefish managed under the Individual 
Fishing Quota Program, by catcher vessels (C/Vs) using hook-and-line 
gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 
Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and-line 
fishery by C/Vs in the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 10, 2016, 
until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations 
governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at 
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-
and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA is 129 metric tons as established 
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(6)(ii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the Pacific halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the 
GOA has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for groundfish, other than demersal shelf rockfish or sablefish 
managed under the Individual Fishing Quota Program, by C/Vs using hook-

[[Page 36809]]

and-line gear in the GOA. After the effective date of this closure the 
maximum retainable amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 
during a trip.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from 
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and 
would delay closure of the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the 
GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public 
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as 
of June 1, 2016.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 2, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-13454 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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